A doctor who offered unlicensed stem cell treatments to patients with MS has been struck off by the General Medical Council.

Dr Robert Trossel treated several men and women, who paid around £10,000.

The GMC found that the doctor, who trained in the Netherlands, had breached good medical practice by "exploiting vulnerable patients".

Dr Trossel, 56, who worked in London and Rotterdam, conceded he had been "too enthusiastic" about the treatment.

At an earlier hearing, the GMC Fitness to Practise panel said that Dr Trossel had exaggerated the benefits of treatment based on "anecdotal and aspirational information".

His patients, who had an aggressive and disabling type of multiple sclerosis, paid up to £10,000 or more for stem cell injections, with some raising the money through charity events.

However, the stem cells offered were not intended for human use, only for laboratory research.

Tom Kark QC, for the GMC, spoke of the patients' "anger and sense of being let down".

"They were all vulnerable patients who already found themselves failed by the medical profession in this country and as a result were searching, some with desperation, for a cure or relief elsewhere, which is why and how they ended up in Dr Trossel's hands," Mr Kark told the GMC.

"They were given false hope by him and the experience not only cost them financially but for the most part it caused them personal and emotional loss when they realised that the treatment provided to them was not only expensive but pointless."

The treatment also contained bovine brain and spinal cord, and the GMC panel ruled he had abused his position as a doctor by failing to warn patients about potential risks of vCJD.

The doctor's own lawyer had told the hearing how patients were informed about the experimental nature of the injections, and that he had stopped using them when the nature of the stem cells became clear following a BBC Newsnight investigation.

He said that the doctor was "compassionate", and had not acted dishonestly.

Despite Dr Trossel's apparent "change of heart", panel chairman Professor Brian Gomes da Costa said he had shown "little insight" into the seriousness of what he had done, and how it might have affected his patients.

Patient fears

The GMC heard that the patients involved had yet to be refunded the thousands of pounds they paid for their treatment.

Karen Galley, 45, from Essex, visited Dr Trossel's clinic in August 2006, and was charged around £10,500 for the treatment, receiving one injection in the arm and six in the neck.

‘’ It makes me feel sick that somebody could exploit vulnerable people in this way”

Karen Galley Patient of Dr Trossel

Friends and colleagues of Ms Galley had helped her raise the money, with one running a mini-marathon and another undertaking a sponsored diet.

She said she was "angry and scared" after finding out that the injections contained bovine spinal tissue.

"His QC has described him as a compassionate doctor - but that is rubbish, no compassionate person treats people like that."

She said that she now lived in fear of diseases such as vCJD, for which there is no test or treatment.

She said: "It makes me feel sick that somebody could exploit vulnerable people in this way."

Another MS patient, accountant Malcolm Pear, from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, visited the Rotterdam clinic in January 2006.

After paying £8,000, the treatment was delivered in a "coffee lounge" rather than a private treatment room.

"I suppose alarm bells should have started ringing then," said his wife Lesley.

She said they were led to believe that the treatment was composed simply of umbilical cells, but found out later that bovine tissue was involved.

After a fleeting improvement, Mr Pear's condition has now deteriorated significantly.

Mrs Pear said: "When you are sitting in front of a neurologist who is saying 'look, there is nothing you can do', you clutch at straws."

"I am not saying we are the most intelligent people on God's Earth, but we certainly are not completely stupid."

After the verdict, Dr Trossel said he was "disappointed".

He added: "I would like to take the opportunity to say how sorry I am for any distress caused to my patients during this time.

"During my career as a doctor, I have always practised with the objective of achieving the very best for my patients."

‘’ You have exploited vulnerable patients and their families...Your conduct has unquestionably done lasting harm, if not physically, then mentally and financially, to these patients and also to their families and supporters. ‘’

Dianne @ A Stellarlife

Living a life with Multiple Sclerosis and all the rest. This blog will include my views on current events, disability issues, entertainment and silliness, politics, health issues, and I am sure to offend some; but the celebration of diversity is my main goal.

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On the MS Journey

About My Poems

Haiku poems in triptych allow me to distill the MS experience into very few words. While these poems have journal-like qualities, they are not my daily journal. They merely represent what I or someone I know will have experienced on the MS journey. That said,

My poems will span
the emotional spectrum.
That is what I live.

A smile may lift me
past my MS challenges.
I share that with you.

Sometimes sadness trumps
easy laughter and resolve.
I will write then too.

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A rambling train of thoughts about the universe and our micro solar system consisting of our dear Sun and other planets in a magnetic dance while we hurtle through space on the face of a rock and stare at flat screens where we attempt to connect while we detach.

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Kimberly @ My Journey with Multiple Sclerosis

Every journey starts with a single step. My journey started "officially" in March 2006. Now, four years into my journey, I often find myself amazed at how this disease taught me a lot....about me. I find the hot air balloons a perfect representation of my journey, with all it's ups and downs....I still soar.

Webster @ halt stop forget relax

Living a life with MS. This is a place where I say what I want; I can criticize, be rude, and fart out loud if I need to. I can and will get pissed at my MS, but prefer to work along with him. Usually I am well-mannered and gracious and behave myself. So do come in and ride along with me.

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FROM A LIFE...A COLLECTION OF IMAGES IN PROSE, PAINT AND PHOTOGRAPHS.
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Maryann @ azoyizes and MS

I was diagnosed with MS in my late 30's, but was having symptoms in my early 20's. The past six years, I've slowly gotten worse. Then, I began Tysabri. I call it my miracle drug. After three infusions, my balance and leg strength had improved to where I was able to take walks with my husband and my dog. My diagnosis has been changed to SPMS.

In 2002 I got the earth shattering news that I could possibly have Multiple Sclerosis. In 2003 that news was confirmed. I was 29 years old. I wanted to start this blog to go over the last few years of dealing with this illness and look forward to the future as it happens. If I can give hope to just one person, that life isn't over when you get life changing news, then this will have been worthwhile!

Cranky @ Musings of a Cranky Caregiver

iving with Multiple Sclerosis is a daily battle. MS is the invisible disease or at least for most people. We fight many emotional and physical symptoms all the time. We need as much support as we can get. However due to the invisible symptoms we tend to not get a lot of support and that brings on more emotional stress which in return brings on more MS symptoms. A Vicious cycle.

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Welcome to my gallery! Batik is an ancient Javanese art form of design on fabric. It is a process of applying hot wax on cloth then dyeing it. To "add" color, the process is repeated several times. Each piece is individual.

Life, learning, passion and humor - one dose at a time - in my daily life. Recently diagnosed with lupus, and recovering from a near-fatal Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis, this is my journey towards happiness, health, laughter, and a life worth living. Won't you join me?

I'm undiscribable at times,loving,compassionate, blah,bla... I fell in love with my husband within the first week we met and after 36 years I'm still madly in love with him. Even counting the 23 years with him in the USMC. I still get giddy whenever he calls. The parentals have moved in with us and I'm on fabulous meds!! LMAO

Friday, September 24, 2010

Got up at 10.00 this morning and was showered and dressed by my darling Richie for 11.30 and did my 30 minutes on the Motomed, was ready for the appointment at 12.15 with Johanneke, my occupational therapist.

She was here at 12.15 and was very apologetic about the miscommunications and the resulting delays; she promised it would not happen again.

She also promised to send me a cc on all correspondence relating to me, which she did today, seems she already got several things sorted today.

Such as my new bed which goes up at the head end which should allow me to sit up better, that is something of a bonus for me especially if it works well.

I will also get another appointment for the IPaq, the Home Servant; this lets me switch on lights and turn on the TV and DVD player, makes the bed go up and down and sits me up.

There are some teething troubles so they need to return, Johanneke has organised the next appointment for 13 October.

She will be here for an hour to check that all will be well installed and adjusted, think this is a great idea.

As at the first appointment two software nerds came here who could only install but not communicate and inform us as to what they would do.

The result was a few things I/we did not want and which did not work very well, such as two lights in the kitchen area which do not work at all anymore.

And doors I can only open if I am right in front of them and other bits and pieces, am very optimistic that with Johanneke here on the 13 October, it should all go better.

After the appointment we had a nice tasty brunch and then went out at about 15.00 for a walk/roll around the neighbourhood.

It was lovely and sunny weather with a slight cool breeze which did not bother me as I was wearing my new red fleece jacket.

We had a really good time; it was brilliant going out this afternoon and enjoying the sun on my face, my darling Richie bought a few pretty plants, all in all a very good afternoon.

Monday, September 20, 2010

A very dreary cool, grey and rainy day, Richie just came back with two very damp dogs, from taking them down to the dog toilet by the canal at the end of our street.

Today is my physiotherapy day, Mathilde will be here at 14.00 for 30 minutes, it is always a good session and I generally benefit from the exercises and shoulder massage.

Michelle, the advisor from the local council will also come by to check my arm supports; hopefully the saga of the wheelchair table will come to a good conclusion soon.

Still can’t believe that while I was waiting for the table to be made from the lengthy measuring session which took 2 1/2 hours on 25 august nothing was happening.

To my amazement found out last Wednesday, that nothing was actually happening as my occupational therapist Johanneke had to come and check the height first.

No one, neither Harm, from Welzorg the mobility company, nor Michelle told either Richie or me this on the 25 august.

If they had have done so, I would have immediately got in touch with Johanneke right away for an appointment ASAP.

But I did not and Johanneke said nothing either, nor did she tell me she was the cause of why the whole project had stagnated.

She just told me that it was stagnated, found out that she or rather her lack of coming to check was the reason nothing was happening.

Really incredible that this has happened especially, after the whole saga of things such as the arm supports, this took months to get adjusted.

Months of painful arms and shoulders because I had to support my arms and shoulders myself.

Can’t believe that my occupational therapist seems to have let me down so badly by not coming by quickly to check the arm supports.

Know for a fact that my old occupational therapist Ludwine would have made an appointment right away, she was very supportive of us both.

Ludwine came to visit us last week Wednesday which was very nice of her, good to see her again.

Shame she is not still my therapist, she is outstanding always acted in my best interests, never adopted a different tone of voice when talking to me.

Always felt like equals which h does not happen too often most including Johanneke adopt their voices.

They talk to me in that sugary tone of voice for the hard of thinking which I hate so much.

Decided the next time that happens, instead of ignoring it I shall ask whoever it is to not patronise me, as I am an equal, being handicapped does not mean that I have become stupid, my handicap has not diminished my intellect.

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Got good supportive feedback about yesterdays post, the feedback and support that I get as a result of my blog is really wonderful.

I have met so many good people through the blog world and been given such a lot of friendship and support by them.

Getting and giving support is so very important for us all, I am glad that I too can give support to others.

Important for me to feel part of it all and to be able to offer friendship and support to other people too.

Friendship and support creates bonds between people and that is of crucial importance for us all right now.

Especially when faced with something as difficult as an incurable disease or anything that ‘cripples’ you and stops you from living your life as you used to.

Having Primary Progressive MS has totally changed my life and Richie’s life, how we are living now is so different now.

The salmon fisher. By Eilif Peterssen (1852–1928)

Being able to talk freely about anything with Richie really helps me to cope with my MS and it also helps me to stop being anxious, panicking, worrying, getting fearful and even helps me cope with getting depressed.

It is very difficult dealing with the fast progression of my MS, it is very difficult to cope with, and luckily for me I have Richie helping me.

His love and support make everything easier and better, it is so good to have him close by, Richie is absolutely invaluable to me.

It is great to see and feel that this dreadful disease has only made our love for each other stronger and brighter than ever.